Machine for boxing matches.



1. P. BENNETT & M. M. ROBB.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

APPLICAHON FILED MAR. 22,19l5.

1,175,521. Patented M&r.14,1916.

1 sums-sum I.

Jill! milllllllw'i .mlllllllll mari'imer- 771. Robb mm p 1 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, 1:. c.

J. P. BENNETT & M. M. ROBB.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

1,175,521. Patented Mar. 14,1916.

7 SHEETSSHET 2.

witnesses 13106215713 62. $70 1 g dfig THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH .60., WASHINGTON, D. C.

'1. P. BENNETT & M. M. ROBB.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

1 SHEETSSHEET 3.

lUii'i-zesses IYZvQrL'ZQrs JBSGPILL :P Benneti lnorTifizer 771. Fobb THE coumnm PLANOGRAPH c0-, \VASHINGTON, D. c.

J. P. BENNETT & M. M. ROBB.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

Patented Mar; 14, 1916.

7 SHEETSSHEET 4.

171 venZEr-S Joseph, 1 361171811? I'Tlorii 71187 771. Robb L D N. O T U v m H M W w m c H P A R a m M P l u A fi m n u L 0 c E n T witnesses J. P. BENNETT & M. M. ROBB.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22 1915- Patented'Mar. 14, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET e.

Zl/lzli'vzesses jnver-Flfirs JESe YL I? Ber-(118 cm. 0&

J. P. BENNETT & M. M. ROBB.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, I915- Patented Mar. 14,1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

f/llg. i4-

, rl'imerm. 'Robb LZ/zlfnesses JOSEPH P. BENNETT AND MORTIMER M. 303B, 013 DULUTI-L MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO UNION MATCH COMPANY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MIN- NESOTA.

MACHINE FOR BOXING MATCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,123.

'1 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J osnrn P. Bnnnnr'r and lilon'riiinn M. ROBE, citizens of the United States, residing at Duluth, in St. Louis county, in the State of Minnesota,

have invented new and useful Improve-- ments in Machines for Boxing Matches, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for boxing matches.

It is especially, though not exclusively, adapted for use in connection with a match making machine of the type which employs endless carriers for dipping, drying and continuously delivering the matches. Its object is to provide simple, durable and efficient means whereby box-trays may be expeditiously and compactly filled with matches.

A further object is to provide a packing machine adapted to receive matches in bulk with their heads pointing in the same direction and deliver measured quantities thereof in parallel relation at two or more points of discharge, together with a conveyer furnished with revoluble'holders for box-trays, said conveyor being arranged to successively present boX-traysat the points of discharge, for the reception of matches, and reverse each tray between said points of discharge, whereby said trays are supplied with a plurality of layers of matches, the matches in one layer being reversed end-for-end with respect to the matches in the nextlayer.

A further object is to provide in a packing machine of this kind simple and efficient means for inserting empty box-trays in the tray-holder and for removing the filled boX- trays from said holders and placing the same in their shucks.

Our invention also includes various novel features of construction, which are hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of our improved machine and shows in. dotted lines conventional means for supplying the hopper with matches in bulk; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, a part of the tray-holder and shuck assembling device be ing shown in dotted lines; Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view in detail, taken through depending flanges of the tables; Fig. 1 isavertical longitudinal sectional view in detail taken through the hopper, rotary feeding devices and a portion of the box-tray conveyer; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sec tional view in detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, and illustrates one of the rotary feeding devices and its driving mechanism; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View in detail taken through the periphery of one of said filling devices; Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating the shuck carrier and driving mechanism therefor, together with a part of the plunger for inserting the box-trays in theshucks; Fig. 8 is a plan view in detail of one of the conveyer' links, and includes a sectional view of a turn-table and a yielding plunger stop therefor; Fig. 9 is an elevation in detail of the driving mechanism for the box-tray conveyer; Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of the driving mechanism for the match moving means within the hopper; Fig. 11 is an elevation of the leveler for settling matches in theboX-trays; Fig.12 is a side View in detail of the leveler head employed in said mechanism; Fig. 13 is an elevation illustrating the tray-tapping device, which is employed to facilitate settling the matches in the box-trays, and Fig. 14 is an elevation showing the mechanism employed in placing box-trays within the holders on the box-tray conveyor, and also the mechanism for pushing the box-trays from said holders into their shucks.

The machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as an embodiment of'our invention, consists primarily of a support ing table A; a hopper 13, adapted to receive matches from the machine in which they are made; a horizontally movable conveyor C, beneath the hopper and provided with individually rotatable tray-holders 15; transfer or tray-filling devices D, adapted to deliver measured quantities of matches from said hopper to the several box-trays; levelers E (Fig. 11) serving to parallelize and 'settle the matches within the boictrays;

tray-tapping devices F (Fig. 13) so placed as to further settle the matches in said trays; a plunger 17 arranged to insert box-trays in the tray-holders of the conveyor; a second plunger 18 to remove said trays from said holders, and a shuck carrying drum G arranged to present shucks for the reception of filled box-trays, as they are removed from said conveyor.

The table A includes a top 19 having downturned flanges 20 at its edges and supporting legs 21. An endless slot or way 22, which in plan is oblong with curved ends, is formed in said table top to serve as a run-way for the antifriction rollers of the conveyer C, hereinafter described. A power-shaft 23 extending longitudinally with respect to thetable A is revolubly supported upon the legs 21 and is supplied with a pulley 24, which may be driven by any suitable source of power. A countershaft 25, parallel with said power-shaft is also revolubly supported upon the legs 21 of the table and is provided with a gear wheel 26 in mesh with a gear wheel 27 on said power shaft.

We have indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

1 a trough 28 0f ordinary design, which receives matches from the usual match carrier, not shown, and has imparted thereto a rapid longitudinal reciprocating movement. 29 and 30 indicate common forms of carriers employed to convey matches within the trough 28 'and deliver the same therefrom. The'trough 28 opensinto the hopper B of our improved machine and delivers matches sidewise into said trough parallel relation and with their heads presented in one'direction. Said hopper B is firmly secured; to said trough 28 and vibrates longitudinally therewith. This hopper is a long horizontal container having a flat bottom 81 and vertical sides 32, the bottom being formed with two openings 83 supplied with gates or traps 34, which are opened and closed as will hereinafter apear.

Matches are pushed fromthe mouth of the hopper toward the openings'33 by depending blades on a power-driven sprocket chain 36,, arranged longitudinally,

with respect to said hopper. Said chain 36 passes over sprocket wheels 37 and 38, carried respectively on shafts 39 and 40 revoluble in bearings 41 on said" hopper. The shaft 39 is provided with a ratchet wheel 42 and a pivoted bell crank 43,one arm of said bell crank being supplied with a dog 44 adapted to engage said ratchet wheel 42. This bell crank is oscillated by a connecting rod 45 attached to one arm thereof and to a crank wheel 46, said crank wheel being revoluble in a bearing 47 be- I neath the table top 19 and driven by. a

bevel gear 48 in mesh with a bevel gear 49 on the counter-shaft 25.

The hopper B is jarred or rapidly reciprocated from end to end, as above mentioned, such jarring movements being employed to compactly mass the matches within the hopper. To facilitate this operation two parallel horizontal rods 50 are suspended within the hopper B by links 51, said rods being formed with upwardly curved ends, which are in the mouth of said hopper. These rods 50 rest on the ends bearings 7 O on the table top.

of thematches of the upper layer, and the weight thereof levels and straightens the matches Within the vibrating hopper. As

indicated in the drawing,the rods 50 pass on either side of the sprocket chain 36 and are free to rise and fall to adjust themselves to the quantity of matches in the hopper. Atthe end of the hopper a stop 52, to prevent an overflow of matches, is inclined upwardly between the rods 50, from the edge of the second opening 33 to the end wall 53 of the hopper, upon which it is secured.

The box-tray conveyer ismade up of an endless series of links 54 slidable upon the table top 19 and having revoluble box-tray holders thereon. Each link comprises a fiat oblong block, formed with perforated hori- Zontal lugs 55 and 56 at opposite ends thereof, the lug 55 being bifurcated to receive between its upper and lower members the lug 56 of the next adjacent link. In a central bore 57 in said block is carried a vertical pivot 58 having a disk-shaped head 59 resting and adapted to turn upon the upper face of said block, An anti-friction roller 60 and a toothed wheel 61 are assembled on said pivot beneath said block. The roller 60 is arranged to travel in the run-way 22 in the table top 19, and the toothedwheel 61, rigidly fixed upon said pivot, is designed to mesh with stationary gear racks hereinafter described, and turn said pivot. A box-trayholder15, including a bottom 62, with upright side flanges 68, rests upon the revoluble disk-shaped head 59, which forms a turn-table for the tray-holder. Said side flanges 63 have large horizontal slots 64 therein and are supplied at their upper edges with tray-retaining ribs 65. It will thus be seen that a box-tray 66 inserted endwise between the sides 68 of the holder 15 rests upon the bottom 62 thereof, and the upper edges of the tray are overlapped by said retaining ribs. g V

Each link 54 is formed with a row of transverse teeth 67 at the outermargin on its upper side. Said links, guided by the rollers 60, follow the way 22 and travel in straight paths at both sides of the table. The teeth 67 of the links lying in either path, form continuous racks, which mesh with gear wheels 68. Said gear wheels are each fixed upon a shaft 69 revoluble in alined The inner end of each shaft is supplied with a ratchet wheel 71 fixed thereto and also carries a pivoted bell crank 72 provided with a dog 73 adapted, to engage and turn the adjacent ratchet wheel. are pivotally secured to each bell crank for oscillating the same, and are attached to the faces of bevel gears 75, which mesh'with opposite sides of a bevel gear 76 on the arranged to turn in opposite directions and Separate connecting rods 74' reverse the rotation of the gear wheels 68,

whereby the run C of the conveyer is 1111-,

pelled in one direction and th run C of said conveyer in the other direction. By this arrangement power is simultaneously applied on both sides of the conveyer at intervals and efficiently drives said conveyer step by step.

Between the vibrating hopper B and the co-nveyer C are located filling devices D, which are essentially, vertically rotatable wheels 7 7 provided with pockets 7 8 adapted to receive a quantity of matches equal to half of the number required to fill a boxtray of given size. These feeding devices are provided with housings 7 9, which form oscillating supports for the vibrating hopper B and are located directly above the run C of the conveyer. The wheel 77 is mounted upon a shaft 80 journaled in the ends of upright links 81, which are pivoted upon standards 82, resting upon the table top '19. This shaft 80, journaled in the sides of the housing 79, supports the same and is keyed to the hub 83 of the wheel 77. The housing 79 has in its top an inlet port 84 communicating with an opening 33 in the floor of the hopper, and immediately above the conveyor 0 in the lower portion of this housing is an outlet port 85 leading to the box-tray on the conveyer C. The sides of the wheel 7 7 fit closely against the housing 79 and the periphery thereof fits snugly against the annular wall 86 of said housing. The above mentioned pockets 78 are formed inthe periphery of said wheel with side walls 87 and are diametrically opposite to each other. Matches fall by gravity from the hopper into these pockets when they register with the inlet port and are retained in said pockets bythe annular wall 86 of the housing 79' until the pockets severally register with the outlet port 85, whereupon said matches fall into a box-tray beneath said outlet port. The wheel 77 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4: and is geared to the teeth 67 of the link 5% beneath said wheel, by a train of gear wheels 88, 89 and 90. The gear wheel 88, fixed on the shaft 80, is driven through the idler gear wheel 89, mounted on the shaft 91, pivotally connecting a link 81 and standard 82, and said idler gear wheel 89 is driven by the gear wheel 90 (mounted on a standard 82) which meshes with the teeth 67 of the conveyer' links 5 1. These gears are so proportioned that registration of a filled pocket with the outlet port 85 begins as the end of a boxtray passes beneath said port, so that the matches falling from said pocket are distributed substantially throughout the length of the box-tray. A downwardly swinging gate 34-, heretofore mentioned, is employed to close each opening 33 in the hopper B, and when open to form a run-way for matches into the pockets 78 of the wheels 77, as the pockets pass beneath an opening 33. The periphery 94: of each wheel 7 7 supports a gate 3 1 and holds it in closed posi tion until the forward edge of a pocket 78 passes the free end of said gate, when said free end drops upon the bottom of the pocket, which is shaped to retard the downward swing of the gate, and thus permit matches to gently slide from the hopper B into the pocket 78 without disturbing their parallel relation. Continued rotation of the wheel 77 then causes the gate 3 1 to swing upwardly into closed'position. To secure this efiect without disarranging the matches, the bottom of the pocket gradually curves downwardly and rearwardly from its forward edge throughout nearly the entire length of the pocket, then curves abruptly upward to the periphery of the wheel, to form a steep'convex contact surface for the end of the gate at the rear of the pocket. This peculiar formation results in a gradual lowering of the gate and permits the gate to be withdrawn from the pocket, as the same is closed, without disturbing the matches in the pocket. The bottoms of the pockets 78 and the annular wall 86 of the housing 79 are formed with grooves 95 and 96 to receive the heads of matches and prevent the frictional contact thereof with ad jacent surfaces as the wheels 77 turn.

Adjacent to the path of the conveyer C, and immediately following each filling de vice, we provide a leveler E and box-tapping mechanism to straighten and settle each charge of matches received by a boX tray. Each leveler E consists of a cap plate 97 provided with dependent fingers 9S and a pressure plate 99 slidable vertically on said fingers; said pressure plate is yieldingly held away from the cap-plate 97 by means of'helical springs 100 coiled about the fingers 98 and the limit of expansion of these springs is fixed by a stop bolt 101, the lower end of which is attached to the pressure plate, its shank sliding through the cap-plate 97 and its upper end being provided with a nut 102 to restrict downward movement. Each of these levelers E depends from a lever 103, which is pivoted near its center on a bracket 104- attached to the table A and is provided with means for plunging the fingers 98 into a passing boxtray, for rapidly vibrating said leveler within such tray and for withdrawing the leveler from the tray. The means which we employ for these purposes are as follows: The lever 103, above mentioned, is attached at one end to the ears 105 on the cap-plate 97, and the other end of said lever is connected by a link 106 with an arm 107 also pivoted near its center on the lower end of said bracket. The free end of this arm 107 is furnished with a roller 108, which is yieldingly held by the spring 109 in contact with the face of a cam 110 on the countershaft 25. Said cam has a regular high surface 111 and an undulating low surface 112, When the roller 108 travels upon this high surface the leveler is held above the path of the box-trays and when said roller travels over the undulating low surface 112, the leveler is lowered into the box-tray and vibrated rapidly up and down until the roller 10S reaches the high surface, when said leveler is again removed from the tray. During the vibration of the leveler the fmgers 98 pass down between the splints and straighten any of the matches that may be askew and the pressure plate 99, bearing down upon the matches, yieldingly presses them together. To assist in this packing operation we supply box-tapping means F (to vibrate the box-trays) which operate simultaneously with the levelers E. Each tapping device comprises a pair of crossed arms 113 pivoted at their intersection on a bracket 114, secured beneath the table, said arms being arranged with their upper ends on opposite sides of the path ofthe trayholders 15 and their lower ends on opposite sides of a cam 115 on the countershaft 25. The upper ends of said arms are adapted to protrude through slots 64 in the sides 63 of the tray-holders 15, and the lower ends are,

supplied with rollers 116 yieldingly held against the face of said cam 115 by the coiled spring 11? stretched between said arms. The cam 115 has opposite regular surfaces 118 and opposite undulating surfaces 119, the depressions in the undulating surfaces being lower than the regular sur faces. When the rollers 116 pass over the regular surfaces 118, the arms 113 are stationary and the upper ends thereof are removed from the path of the tray-holders, but when said rollers pass over the undulating surfaces 119 of the cam 115 the upper ends of said arms are moved rapidly back and forth through the slots 64; in a tray holder and caused to tap the sides of the box-tray therein contained. V

The loading station for trays, at one side of the table, consists of a boX or receptacle 120 open at the top and at one end, the open end being adjacent to the path of the con veyer C. Box-trays are inserted through he top opening of this receptacle inany convenient manner and are shifted transversely to loading position by suitable means, such as the hand-operated plunger 121, shown in Fig. 2.

An automatically operated device is employed to push empty box-trays from this loading station into tray-holders in the run C of the conveyer, and also to eject filled box-trays from'the run C of the conveyer. A plunger rod 17, slidable in the closed end of the receptacle 120 and a plunger rod 18,

tiltable on a bracket 124 depending from I the table-top 19. Said lever also has a slidable pivotal connection with one end of a reciprocating bar 125, which is mounted in a bearing 126 on said bracket, and bifurcated at one end to form a slidablebearing on the countershaft 25. This'reciprocating rod is supplied with a roller 127 arranged to travel in the cam-way 128 of a cam 129 on said countershaft, and said rod is shifted backward and forward by said roller to rock the lever 123 and reciprocate the plunger rods 17 and 18. fhese rods are respectively furnished with heads 13() and 131, the former being adapted to bear against theend of a box-tray and push the same from the receptacle 120 into the adjacent tray-holder while the latter is arranged to bear against the end of a filled box-tray and push it from the tray-holder.

WVe provide means for assembling the filled box-trays in shucks as said trays are removed from the conveyer. A drum G on the shaft 132, r-evoluble in bearings 133 depending from the table-top 19, is supplied with peripheral transverse grooves 134, each groove-being adapted to snugly receive ashuck and present an open end thereof to the end of a filled box-tray about to be discharged from the conveyer. Flared guides 135 are inserted in the inner ends of each groove 13 1 to direct a box-tray into a shuck. The inner ends of said'iianges form vertical shoulders 136 against which the ends of the bottoms and sides of a shuck abut. To facilitate directing a box-tray into a SllUCk,

and to hold theshuck in its groove while the tray is being inserted therein, we provide an upper guide-plate 137' secured to the table top 19 by bolts, or the like, said plate being formed with an abutment 138 depending therefrom to obstruct the outer end of the groove 13 1 at the top of the drum G. Said drum is driven step by step with the conveyer C and empty shucks 139 are inserted in grooves on one side of the plate 137 and the assembled shucks and box-trays are removed at the'other side of said plate. The v signed to shiftthe conveyer step bystep a distance equal to the length of one conveyer link, thus presenting anew box-tray to the various devices above described, which are distributed at intervals around the margin of the table. Before reaching the position wherein empty box-trays are inserted in the tray-holders, said tray-holders are turned one-quarter of a revolution by the engagementof the passing toothed wheelsfil with the stationary rack 1&8 (see Fig. 3) on the flange 20 of the table, so that said holders rest transversely on the conveyer to receive empty boxtrays from the loading station. Said rack 148 is designed also to turn said holders to longitudinal position on'the conveyer after receiving said empty box-trays. A similar rack 149 (see Fig. 3), fixed upon the table between the filling devices D, engages said toothed wheels and turns the tray-holders end-for-end on the conveyer. A third rack 150 (see also Fig. 3) islocated on the opposite side of the table and first turns the tray-holders transversely on the conveyer, whereby the filled box-trays may be discharged by the plunger 18, then continues the revolution'of said holders until they again reach longitudinal positions on the conveyer. I

To prevent the tray-holders from resting in other than exact transverse and l0ngitudinal positions on the conveyer, which irregularity might result from the wearing of parts, we have formed V-shaped notches 151 at intervals of ninety degrees in the periph-. cry of the diskshaped head or turn-table 59 of ea ch conveyer link 54, and upon each link have placed a pointed spring pressed plunger 152 (see Fig. 8), which enters oneof the notches 151 as the tray-holder nears a position of rest. Said plunger 152'tends to hold the turn table in (or turn it slightly toward) proper position, but yields readily when said table is turned by the power mechanism.

In operation, ,matches are fed into the hopper B from the vibrating trough 28 and conveyed along thefhopper B above the gates 34 by the blades 35 on the sprocket chain 36. Said trough imparts an endwise jarring movement to the hopper B and also shakes the oscillatory filling devices D (see Fig. 5) supporting saidhopper. The boxtray conveyer C and the shuck carrying drum G are propelled in unison step by step. The movement of said conveyer causes the turning of the box-tray holders thereon as well as the rotation of the wheels 77 of the filling devices. When the conveyer is at rest the following operationsare performed: An empty boX-trayis inserted ina tray holder by the push-rod 17 a filled box-tray is removed from a tray-holder and shoved by the push-rod 18 into the waiting shack 139 in the top of the drum Gr and the last charges from the filling devices D are com pactly and uniformly arranged in their boxtrays by the levelersE and tappers F. During each forward impulse of the conveyer, a tray-holder is moved and turned to receive an e1npty b0x-tray,'and another, tray-holder is similarly moved and turned to permit the removal of a filled box-tray; the wheels 77 of the filling devices are turned a partial revolution to empty the contents of a pocket 78 into the box-tray beneath it and a trayholder 15 between said filling stations is turned end-for-end by its turn-table, so that stations and first present each tray-holder at one station, then present it at another station, and means for driving and synchronizing the movements of said delivery mechanism and conveyer.

2. In a machine for boxing matches, means for delivering matches at different points of discharge in substantially parallel relation, with their heads extending in the same direction, an endless series of pivotally connected links beneath said delivering means, each link having a horizontally revoluble box-tray holder thereon, mechanism tor intermittently and simultaneously driving said delivering means and series of links, the latter being adapted to present each tray-holder beneath one discharge position, and then another, and means for turning said tray-holders, between the different stations.

3. Ina machine for boxing matches, a traveling conveyer consisting of an endless series of links, each link having a revoluble holder thereon adapted to receive a box-tray, means for delivering matches in measured quantities tobox-trays in said holders at a plurality of positions, means for propelling said conveyer step-bvstep to present the tray-holders beneath said discharge positions and means for turning said holders, between said filling positions, during each step of the conveyer. l

4L In a machine "for boxing matches, the combination with a match hopper of an endless carrier provided with a series of hori- Zontally revoluble tray-holders, a pair of vertically revoluble filling devices and means forcoordinating the movements of said tray-holders and filling devices.

5. In a machine for boxing matches, a

horizontal support having an endless Way bearing beneath said link, said roller bearing being adapted to travel in said Way and direct the movement of the link, filling devices for supplying quantities of matches to said trays While traveling in the same straight course and means for rotating the pivots between said filling devices to turn said tray-holders end for end. i a

6.111 a machine for boxing matches, a horizontal support having an endless Way therein, filling devices arranged to discharge measured quantities of matches at successive stations, a power-driven box-tray conveyer on said support adapted to present box-trays in succession beneath the dis charge stations, said conveyer comprising an endless series of pivotally connected links slidable on said support (each link having v a vertical shaft revoluble therein, a turntable secured to said shaft and revoluble upon said link, a holder on the turn-table to receive a box-tray, ananti-friction roller on the shaft adapted to travel in said Way" and a toothed Wheel fixed on said shaft) and a stationary rack adapted to engage the passing toothed Wheels on said links and stations, said conveyer comprising an endless series of pivotally connected links slidable on said support (each link having a vertical shaft revoluble therein, a turn-table secured to said shaft and revoluble upon said link, a holder on the turntable to re ceive a box-tray, a roller on the shaft adapted to travel in said Way and a toothed Wheel fixed on said shaft), a stationary rack adapted 'to engage the passing toothed Wh'eelson said links and turn the box-trays end-for-end in their travel between said fillingdevices and yielding means for securing said turn-tablein predetermined.position. 8. In a machine for boxing matches, a longitudinally reciprocating hopper having openings in the bottom thereof and adapted to receive matches in parallel relation, means for moving matches along the bottom of the hopper toward the openings, rods pivotally suspended near their ends Within the hopper and adapted to yieldingly bear upon the matches therein to distributeand compactly arrange said matches, a box-tray conveyer' beneath said hopper and oscillatory filling devices for receiving quantities of matches from the openings in said hopper and delivering the same into the box-trays in said i conveyor, said filling devices forming a movable support for said hopper.

9. In a machine for boxing matches, an endless conveyer having revoluble holders thereon adapted to receive box-trays, said holders resting normally in longitudinal pcsitionsavith respect to the conveyer, means for pushing box-trays endWise into and out. of said holders, means for intermittently supplying said trays With matches and said hopper and located one beneath each opening, said filling devices being adapted to receive matches from said hopper, straighten the same and deliver them uniformly into the box-trays of the conveyer.

11. In a machine for boxing matches, the combination of a hopper containing a supply of matches and having openings in the bottom thereof, a 'conveyer carrying boxtrays beneath the hopper, a vertically rotat-able filling device for each opening (between the hopper and conveyer) adapted to receive matches from said hopper and cleliver a quantity thereof into each box-tray, and means for jarring the box-trays and for bringing the matches into parallel relation 7 therein. I

12.1n a machine for boxing matches, a hopper With trapped openings in the bottom thereof, a Wheel, having an oscillating axis, beneath each ofjsaid openings, and a boxtray conveyer beneath the vvheels, which are provided With pockets in the periphery thereof adapted to receive matches from said hopper and deliver the same into box-trays on said conveyer.

13.,In a machine for-boxing matches, a hopper havinga trapped opening in the bottom thereof, a Wheel formed With pockets in its periphery and revolubly mounted upon an oscillating axis beneath the opening insaid hopper, a box-tray conveyer beneath' the Wheel, and a train of gears betWeen said conveyer and Wheel for transmitting motion from the former to the latter, said Wheel being adapted to receive quantities of matches from the hopper and deliver them into box-trays on said conveyer. Y

14. In a machine for boxing matches, a

ports on the frame for said housings andgearing connecting the conveyer and wheels for turning the latter.

l5. lln a. machine for boxing" matches, a hopper with an opening in the bottom thereof, a box-tray conveyer passing beneath said hopper, a vertically revoluble wheel (between the hopper and conveyor) formed with pockets in its periphery, a housing for said wheel having an, inner annular wall fitted closely against the periphery of'said 'wheel, said wall being formed with an up per port communicating with the'opening in said hopper and a lower port leading to said conveyor, a downwardly swinging gate for the opening in said hopper, normally supported by the periphery of said wheel, and means for turning "the wheel whereby said pockets are successively registered with said upper and lower-ports.

16. In a machine for boxing matches, a hopper having an opening ill-its bottom, a box-tray conveyer beneath said hopper, a wheel vertically revoluble between said hop per and conveyer, a downwardly swinging gate for said opening, adapted to normally rest upon the periphery oi. the wieel, pockets in the periphery of said wheel into which said gate falls to permit the filling of the DCClCQlT-S with matches, and a curved wall :litting against the periphery otthe wheel to close the descending pockets until they reach a position immediately:above the path of the conve er, in which position said 300kets are unccvered so that the contents thereof fall into a box-tray on said conveyer."

17. In a machine for boxing matches, a hopper formed with an opening in its bot tom. aneiidless conveyer for box-trays beneath said hopper, a vertically revoluble vibrating wheel interposed between saidvho'pper and conveyor and formed with a pocket in itsperiphery, adapted toregister with said opening and receive therefrom a sup ply of matches, a curved wall fitting against the periphery of said wheel to retain matches within said pocket as it descends and a port in said wall. to permit the escape of matches" into a box-tray on said conveyera 18. In a machine for boxing matches, a hopper formed with an opening in its bottom, an endless conveyor for box-trays beneath said hopper, a vertically revoluble wheel interposed between said hopper and conveyer and formed with a pocket in its periphery, adapted to register with said opening and receive therefrom a supply of matches, a curved wall fitting against the periphery of said wheel to retain matches within said pocket as it descends, a port in said wall to permit the escape of matches into a box-tray on said conveyer, and mechanism for simultaneously moving said wheel and conveyer and timing such move ment so that matches are distributed throughout the length of said box-tray.

19. In a machine for boxing matches, a hopper having an opening in the bottom thereof and provided with a closure for said opening, a conveyer ior box-trays beneath said hopper, a rotary filling device having pockets cotiperating with said closure to measure quantities of matches and receive the same from said hopper, said filling device being arranged to discharge said matches immediately above the path of said conveyer and means for driving the conveyer to move said box-trays, during the discharge of matches, whereby said matches will be uniformly distributed from one end of a box-tray to the other.

20. In a machine for boxing matches, a hopper for matches having an opening in its bottom, a wheel formed with a pocket therein adapted to pass beneath said opening, and a hinged gate for the opening normally closed by engagement withsaid wheel and adapted to swing downward into the pocket to permit the same to be filled with matches, the bottom of said pocket being formed to engage the free end of the gate to time the-lowering and raising of said gate.

21. In amachine for boxing matches, a hopper having an opening in its bottom, a conveyer for box-trays, a movable pocket adapted to receive matches in parallel re lation from the hopper and'diseharge them into a bo -tray'on the conveyer, and a hinged gate for said opening, the free end thereof being adapted to swing downward into said pocket and slide upon the bottom thereof, said bottom being so formed that the tilting of the gate is equalized to per: mituniform delivery of the matches.

22; In a machine for boxing matches, an

intermittently propelled conveyer carrying box-trays thereon, means for supplying said box -trays with matches, a tiltable arm on either side of the path or said conveyer, said arms being arranged to strike opposite sides of a box-tray, and yielding means for moving said arms when said conveyer is at rest to rapidly and simultaneously tap the opposite sides of said box-trays.

23. In a machine forboxing matches, an

intermittently propelled conveyer carrying 24. In a machine for boxing matches, an

intermittently propelled conveyer carrying box-trays thereon, means for supplymg said box-trays with matches, arms arranged to strike the sides of a box-tray when the conveyer is at rest, a leveler provided with fingers adapted to'enter the box-tray and penetrate the layer of matches therein and means for simultaneously vibrating the arms and reciprocating said leveler vertically to compactly and uniformly arrange the matches within said tray. I

25. In a machine for boxing matches, a conveyer carrying box-trays, means for supplying said boX-trays with matches and mechanism for composing and compactly arranging in parallel relation the matches within said trays, said mechanism comprising a vertically reciprocating leveler provided with fingers, adapted to pass into and out of a box-tray, and a plate slidable on said fingers and yieldingly held in contact with the matches.

26. In a machine for boxing matches, a conveyercarrying boX-trays, means for. supplying said box-trays with matches, mechanism for arranging the matches in parallel relation in said box-trays, said mechanism comprising a vertically movable leveler hav- 7 ing depending fingers thereon, and a cam adapted to depress said leveler to insert its fingers between the matches in a box-tray, then vibrate said leveler to straighten and pack the matchesand finally lift'the leveler to clear the path of the tray.

27. Ina machine for boxing matches, vertlcally rotatable filling devices, means for supplying said devices with matches, an

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for mentioned means comprising a vertically yieldingly held in contact with the matches.

28. In a machine for boxing matches, vertlcally rotatable filling devices formed wlth 1 pockets for matches and provided with a housing adapted to close said pockets at intervals in the rotation of the filling de vice, a hopper, formed with trapped openings in its bottom and supported by said housing, for supplying said pockets with matches, an intermittently propelled conveyer carrying box-trays thereon beneath said filling devices and adapted to first present each tray in position to receive a measured quantity of matches from one pocket,

' then turn said tray end-for-end and present it in position to receive an additional quantity of matches from a pocket in another filling device, and means for distributing and compactly arranging the matches within said trays, said last mentioned means comprising a vertically reciprocating leveler provided with fingers, adapted to pass into and out of a box-tray between the matches, and a plate slidable on said fingers and yieldingly held in contact with the matches. 29. In a machine for boxing matches, vertically rotatable filling devices formed with pockets for matches and provided with a housing adapted to close said pockets at intervals in the rotationof the filling device, a hopper, formed with trapped openings in its bottom and supported by said housing, for" supplying said pockets ivith matches, an intermittently propelled 'conveyer carrying boXtrays thereon beneath said filling devices and adapted to first present each tray in position to receive a measured quantity of matches from one pocket, then turn said tray end-for-end and present it in'position to receive an additional quantity of matches from a pocket in another filling device, and means ii or distributing in said trays.

In testlmony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification'in the presence of two subscrlblng witnesses,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, Dl G. I

and compactly arrangingfthe matches with- 

